Prepaid cards can be a great way to carry around a little cash without worrying about going over a budget, but as Consumer Reports points out, they have a lot of disadvantages. Chief among them is the lack of protection for purchases, but as they also note, prepaid cards also come with a few fees you might not be aware of.

The biggest complaint Consumer Reports has with prepaid cards is the fact you aren't guaranteed the same protections you are with a credit card. For instance, if you make a big purchase online and the item shows up damaged, you don't get protection through your credit card and have to go straight through the delivery company. They also point out a bunch of fees you might not be aware of. These include fees to load new funds, to call customer service, and even for balance-inquiries.

Of course, not all pre-paid cards are bad, as we've pointed out before, budgetting travel expenses. The key is to be aware of the card's service fees and protections. Hit up the link below for Consumer Reports' look at prepaid cards, their fees, and protections.